Curable epoxy compositions

Abstract

Curable epoxy compositions, their cured compositions, and uses for such cured compositions are described. The curable epoxy compositions include a boron tri-halide accelerator and a curing system including one or more crosslinking agents. The crosslinking agent(s) include at least two primary amine groups and at least one tertiary amide group. The primary amine groups and the tertiary amide groups may be present on the same crosslinking agent or may be present on different crosslinking agents.

1 . A curable composition comprising one or more epoxy resins, a boron tri-halide complex accelerator, and a curing system comprising one or more crosslinking agents, the crosslinking agent(s) comprising at least two primary amine groups and at least one tertiary amide group; wherein the composition is substantially free of anhydride groups. 
     
     
         2 . The curable composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the curing system comprises a crosslinking agent comprising both the at least two primary amine groups and the at least one tertiary amide group. 
     
     
         3 . The curable composition according to  claim 2 , wherein the crosslinking agent comprises a polyether-amido-amine curing agent comprising both the at least two primary amine groups and the at least one tertiary amide group. 
     
     
         4 . The curable composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises 2 to 5 parts be weight, inclusive, of the crosslinking agent(s) per 100 parts by weight of the epoxy resins. 
     
     
         5 . The curable composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of moles of primary amine groups to moles of tertiary amide groups is from 5:1 to 15:1, inclusive. 
     
     
         6 . The curable composition according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one epoxy resin comprises at least one of a diglycidylether of bisphenol A and an epoxy novolac. 
     
     
         7 . The curable composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises at least 4 and no greater than 10 parts by weight of the boron tri-halide complex accelerator per 100 parts by weight of the epoxy resins. 
     
     
         8 . A curable composition comprising:
 (a) one or more epoxy resins;   (b) 4 to 10 parts by weight of the boron tri-halide complex accelerator per 100 parts by weight of the epoxy resins;   (c) a curing system comprising a polyether-amido-amine curing agent comprising both at least two primary amine groups and at least one tertiary amide group; wherein the composition comprises 2 to 8 parts by weight, inclusive, of the crosslinking agent per 100 parts by weight of the epoxy resins;   wherein the ratio of moles of primary amine groups to moles of tertiary amide groups included in the crosslinking agents of the curing system is from 5:1 to 10:1, inclusive; and   wherein the composition comprises no greater than 0.05 equivalents of anhydride groups per equivalent of epoxy groups.   
     
     
         9 . The curable composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one of core-shell rubber particles and a flame retardant. 
     
     
         10 . The curable composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the curable composition has a peak exothermic temperature, as measured according to the Exothermic Temperature Procedure, of no greater than 150° C. when cured at 120° C. 
     
     
         11 . The curable composition according to  claim 1 , wherein difference between the peak exothermic temperature and the curing temperature, as measured according to the Exothermic Temperature Procedure, is no greater than 30° C. 
     
     
         12 . A cured composition comprising the cured reaction product of the curable composition according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . The cured composition of  claim 12 , wherein the cured composition has a glass transition temperature of at least 120° C. as measured by the Glass Transition Temperature Procedure. 
     
     
         14 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The curable composition according to  claim 8 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one of core-shell rubber particles and a flame retardant. 
     
     
         17 . The curable composition according to  claim 8 , wherein the curable composition has a peak exothermic temperature, as measured according to the Exothermic Temperature Procedure, of no greater than 150° C. when cured at 120° C. 
     
     
         18 . The curable composition according to  claim 8 , wherein difference between the peak exothermic temperature and the curing temperature, as measured according to the Exothermic Temperature Procedure, is no greater than 30° C. 
     
     
         19 . A cured composition comprising the cured reaction product of the curable composition according to  claim 8 . 
     
     
         20 . The cured composition of  claim 19 , wherein the cured composition has a glass transition temperature of at least 120° C. as measured by the Glass Transition Temperature Procedure.